Islington singers raise spirits and money for Whittington Health NHS Trust

The Islington Choral Concert took place at St Luke’s West Holloway Church on Wednesday (08/02/23), and raised £1,600 from ticket and raffle sales in aid of Her Worship the Mayor of Islington’s two chosen charities The Whittington Health Charity and Ronald McDonald House Charities UK.

Sing For Your Lungs is Whittington Health’s free weekly singing group for people with long-term respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),  and long-covid.

Funded by The Whittington Health Charity, members are led by experienced music therapists to work on vocal exercises and postural work. Research shows that singing can help people with respiratory conditions in a number of ways, including exercising the major muscle groups in the upper body and improving oxygen intake.

Chris has been attending the singing sessions, for 10 years. She said, “I have asthma and COPD. Regular singing with the choir, along with the breathing exercises we do, really helps me with my breathlessness.

 

“Not only that, the group gives me emotional support too. Everyone is so friendly and I always come away with a smile”.

Her Worship the Mayor of Islington, Cllr Marian Spall,  said, “What a wonderful evening! I would like to thank everyone who has made this event so special, especially the local school choirs and Whittington Health’s Sing For Your Lungs choir, who sang beautifully.

“My chosen charities, Ronald McDonald Moorfields House and The Whittington Health Charity, do such important work to support people who are receiving care in their hospitals and health centres.

“All the money we raised at this event will be split between the two charities, so I would also like to say a big thank you for the generosity of everyone came along this evening to show their support.”

Whittington Health Charity has funded multiple projects at the Whittington Hospital and various community sites including the Tynemouth Road Community Health Centre and Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children, supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities.

 

More recently, The Whittington Health Charity are supporting the hospital’s Maternity Neonatal Transformation project by fundraising for state-of-the-art equipment to enhance the hospital’s birth centre. You can make a donation to the Charity by heading to their website here.